Multi-functional Fluidic Manifold for Portable Fuel Cell Systems

Significant progress has been made in recent years in portable fuel cell systems to increase energy and power densities. However, the majority of the focus has been in fuel cell development or hydrogen storage with little consideration towards the system ancillary components (pumps, valves, regulators, tubing) that usually require a complicated layout and adds unnecessary mass and volume. To address these limitations, Lynntech proposes to develop a multi-functional fluidic manifold that will reduce the system mass and volume, while improving both reliability and robustness. This novel multi-functional fluidic manifold contains the reactant gas and cooling channels, eliminating the need for tubing where the wall thickness accounts for half the tube diameter. The pump heads will be integrated in the fluidic manifold, eliminating the need for a shell. The manifold body will also serve as the regulator housing. To further reduce system mass and volume the fuel cell and heat exchanger will attach directly to the manifold eliminating the need for an endplate and water flow channel plate. This entire fluidic manifold will be fabricated from lightweight, high strength plastics to handle the mechanical and thermal stresses with new low power solenoid valves to improve system efficiency.